News – Page 384 – Ranson Financial Group LLC

Westwood gets first look at new park design, but lawsuit has snagged plans indefinitely

info2024-11-18T09:28:18-06:00November 18th, 2024|

The city of Westwood’s new park envisions walking paths, natural play and restrooms — but planning is on hold indefinitely due to an active lawsuit. On Thursday, the Westwood City Council during a work session got a first look at three different ideas for a new park planned for the former Westwood View Elementary site. This proposed 3.8-acre park is part of Karbank Real Estate Services’ controversial Rainbow Boulevard project, a six-building office-retail development that the city approved last year. In exchange for building on Joe D. Dennis Park — which is Westwood’s main park — Karbank agreed to give the [...]

Fallen marshal to be honored on national memorial

info2024-11-18T09:26:45-06:00November 18th, 2024|

A lawman killed in Cherokee County nearly 125 years ago will soon be honored nationally. Empire City Marshal Marion Thomas will soon be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. In 1900 – present day Galena was known as “Empire City.” On February 4 of that year, Marshal Thomas entered a saloon near Main and Columbus Streets around 3 that afternoon for a report of shots fired inside the establishment. When he entered, he was shot multiple times, he died instantly, leaving behind a wife and three kids. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office learned earlier this year [...]

City manager finalists selected in Junction City

info2024-11-18T09:24:31-06:00November 18th, 2024|

Locals in Junction City can meet with the finalists for the city manager position later this month at a local opera house. The City of Junction City announced in a press release on Friday, Nov. 15 that four finalists for the city manager spot will be available to meet with from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22 at the 2nd-floor rehearsal hall at the C.L. Hoover Opera House located at 135 West Seventh Street. Each of the finalists will be on hand to speak with locals in an informal setting. Source: KSNT 27 News

Homeless crimes divide officials

info2024-11-17T16:12:39-06:00November 17th, 2024|

Police officers in some communities struggling with homelessness are not likely to dole out tickets or arrests for the low-level crimes. That’s led to some Kansas lawmakers questioning if communities struggling with homelessness are too lax on law enforcement and not doing enough to try to help address homelessness. Source: Salina Journal

Municipal Bond Trends for November 15, 2024

Henry Schmidt2024-11-16T10:13:24-06:00November 16th, 2024|

The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of AA rated bond trades reported to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s EMMA® system. Every issuer's credit is different, and other financing sources may be available. To obtain comprehensive Financial Advisory services for your local government, contact your Ranson Financial Municipal Advisor, Larry Kleeman, or Henry Schmidt.

Marshall County sales tax vote passes, narrowly

info2024-11-15T13:34:48-06:00November 15th, 2024|

Eight votes were the difference Thursday as a county sales tax for the local hospital passed by a narrow margin — 2,374 to 2,366 — at the Marshall County Board of Commissioners’ official count of this fall’s general election. The question of whether to renew Community Memorial Healthcare’s countywide half-cent sales tax for another five years was the only special question on the the 2024 general election ballot. Source: The Marysville Advocate

About 1,500 Kansas students change school districts under new open enrollment policy

info2024-11-15T09:25:10-06:00November 15th, 2024|

Kansas school districts showed caution in allowing transfers through a new open enrollment option that lets students attend school outside their home district, data presented Wednesday to the Kansas State Board of Education showed. About 1,500 students transferred out of their home district under the new law for the 2024-2025 school year, making up just 6% of all district transfers, according to data from the Kansas State Department of Education. Transferring between districts has been permitted for years under different methods, and even with the new law, the total number of students who transferred to a district outside their own declined [...]

City broadens energy portfolio

info2024-11-15T09:23:25-06:00November 15th, 2024|

Iola City Council members agree it’s a good idea to diversify the city’s energy profile. How? By adding 3-megawatts of power to the city’s energy portfolio through a solar agreement. Recently, the Kansas Municipal Energy Association (KMEA) and NextEra Energy entered into a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Through the agreement, KMEA anticipates purchasing up to 90-megawatts of electric energy from a 200-megawatt solar facility called Ninnescah Flats Solar in Pratt County. As a member of KMEA, the City of Iola is eligible to purchase a portion of the energy. Source: The Iola Register

Kansas Republicans say changes to ‘the most hated tax’ are top priority for next year

info2024-11-15T09:20:48-06:00November 15th, 2024|

For months Kansas Republicans campaigned on promises to take action on property taxes as soaring home values in recent years enraged voters. Now comes the time to deliver. After Republicans bolstered their supermajority in the Legislature in last week’s elections, lawmakers have begun weighing plans for the 2025 session that begins in January. They are emphatic that property taxes sit at the top of the to-do list. “We’ve sort of got a mandate from voters,” said Sen. Virgil Peck, a Havana Republican who sits on the Senate Tax Committee. “The property tax relief issue, I think, is urgent. That is the [...]

10-year Treasury yield jumps on week as Powell says Fed not in a hurry to keep cutting rates

info2024-11-15T09:19:46-06:00November 15th, 2024|

U.S. Treasury yields were higher on Friday, ending a week where the 10-year Treasury yield jumped amid new inflation data and comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell that suggested the central bank may not be as aggressive next year with its rate-cutting campaign. The 10-year Treasury yield was last higher by about three basis point to 4.451%. The 10-year rate ended last week around 4.31%. The yield on the 2-year Treasury rose by nearly five basis points to 4.341%. The 2-year yield ended last week around 4.25%. One basis point equals 0.01% and yields and prices move in opposite directions. [...]